Curious. If you know you're going to have a meal that's high in sodium, or you plan on eating something high carb, plan on having a beer, or whatever it is that makes you hold water, is there something you can do to prevent the retention that is sure to follow?

Drinking excess water is not going to help. Yes it will help flush the sodium but it will also help flush the potassium and water weight is more a function of sodium to potassium ratio than just a sodium issue.

My advice - drink very little water the next day or two - just sips, really - so you won't absorb any more than absolutely necessary. Then get a good diuretic and use it throughout the day. Use it until it's all used up. You should see that water weight gain flush out and go away fast.

I gained quite a few pounds this way recently. Water weight will really drive you crazy.

Drinking adequate water and getting enough magnesium and potassium is crucial to balancing sodium in my system. I supplement the aforementioned minerals to make sure I am getting enough. Water retention isn't a sodium quantities issue so much as a ratio imbalance of sodium to potassium, and when drinking large quantities of water it is always good to supplement magnesium to help prevent electrode imbalances.

The best way to deal with temporary water weight gain is to ignore it. It will take care of itself in a few days after you return to your food plan.

That being said, I do sometimes try to push nature along, especially during PMS/TOM weight gain because I gain so much water weight that I feel uncomfortably bloated.

I do drink extra water, but not TONS of it - just a couple extra glasses (for a total of no more than 3 quarts of total fluids including caffeine - because that's what a kidney specialist told me to do after my mother was hospitalized for water intoxication and determined I was also at risk).

I also try to include some higher potassium foods (for the reason JohnP mentions), and I'll reduce my carb intake for a few days (because low-carb tends to flush water as the body needs less water to process low-carb diet than a higher carb one).

I really only do this during PMS/TOM though because the low-carb seems to not only flush out the water and reduce the bloating and menstrual cramps, it also tends to help control cravings and hunger better. If I eat high-carb during this time, it makes the carb-cravings 1000 times worse. I call out of control hunger "rabid hunger" and during PMS/TOM it gets so bad that hubby has often called me "werewolf." Anything to turn rabid hunger into normal hunger is essential for me, and low-carbing during "that time of month" especially does help keep rabid hunger at bay. So the water weight loss is just a bonus.

My doc gave me a diuretic prescription for those days when the retention is just so bad it's uncomfortable... (No refills. In other words, only as needed and don't abuse it). I drink a lot of water and always take the random gains and losses in stride, but would love to off set a gain if I know it's going to happen. I'll try the extra water next time, and a supplement. Thanks!

This will be long, but let me illustrate something with regares to what Artic Mama and JohnP advised mineral (sodium/potassium ratios and I presume magnesium to help retain?) balance is likely the culprit. I'm no expert and am only now learning about this myself....

two days ago i began suffering from dry mouth, a headache, lack of lucidity, and overall fatigue. On Tuesday I had a goal of running 8 miles, but had to stop at 6.7 because I had no power and just felt really weak and thirsty. Wednesday, I went to Moksha (hot yoga) and was going to hit the stationary bike for a bit, but just couldn't get the power. I thought (!) it was because I was tired, but no...

Get this: I always drink at least 2 liters of water/day. Easily. I have a black stainless steel bottle that contains 750ml. Drink three = 2250ml which is two liters and one cup. No prob. ...I never drink during my runs ,but on Tuesday I was SO THIRSTY! It was also hot out or hotter than usual (I live in northern Canada and summer is coming!!). I sweat a lot. I had Moksha the previous day as well. The following day, I did more Moksha and drank 6 of my 750ml bottles (4 1/2 liters). I was still so FRICKEN thirsty!! OMG. I've never been so thirsty...

On Tuesday I weighed in at 125...on Wednesday, 130. I have been eating at a deficit. I also only eat whole foods that I process/prepare myself. So VERY little added sodium. ....apparently one needs (as per canada food guide) a minimum of 1500mg of sodium/day to help maintain electrolyte balance.

WHO KNEW I needed more salt?! ....Long story short, I crashed, exhausted only to get up yesterday morning with dry mouth, groggy...I RAN to Mac's and bought two huge bottles of Powerade to help replenish my electrolytes and after pounding the first one back (1 liter) I started to feel like myself again within minutes. My mouth was no longer dry and I felt my energy levels power back.

I haven't weighed yet, but I suspect that I will be closer to 125 this morning...

all of this to say: its more than just drinking enough water like I always thought. The body is more complicated than this. That said, I will be spending more time researching mineral balance in the body now

I really feel that the reason I rarely see any significant water weight gains is because I drink a lot of water. Or that my body just doesn't hold onto it that much.

Who knows, eh? I drink less than 8 cups of fluid per day (including coffee, tea and juice) but I also rarely see significant water weight gains and I never ever feel bloated. I suspect my body doesn't hold on to water.